House Passes Farm Bill Without E15 or Pesticide Protections, Sets Separate Vote for May 13

TL;DR: The House approved a farm bill on Thursday that omits year‑round E15 sales and removes pesticide industry protections, voting 224‑200 on the bill and 280‑142 on the amendment. A separate vote on year‑round E15 sales is set for May 13.

The farm bill renews federal support for agriculture programs every five years and typically includes provisions on commodity aid, conservation, research and energy. This year’s version faced sharp divisions among Republicans over whether to allow year‑round sales of E15, a gasoline blend containing 15% ethanol. Lawmakers also debated language that would shield pesticide makers from certain lawsuits linked to glyphosate‑based products.

House Republican leadership, led by Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn 'GT' Thompson, had been testing support for the bill amid pressure from farm-state groups seeking relief from high input costs. The leadership framed the measure as a necessary update to help producers facing rising bankruptcies and market uncertainty.

On Thursday the House passed the bill by a 224‑200 margin, deliberately leaving out the E15 year‑round provision. Later the same day, members approved an amendment stripping pesticide industry protections by a vote of 280‑142. Leadership has scheduled a stand‑alone vote on year‑round E15 sales for May 13, after the upcoming recess.

Senate Democrats have signaled willingness to consider the House version but insist on restoring some conservation and nutrition provisions that were trimmed in the House draft. Republican senators from corn‑producing states have warned they will block the bill unless the E15 issue is addressed.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where a 60‑vote supermajority is required for passage, and senators may draft their own version or take up the House text. Removing the pesticide liability shield could expose manufacturers to more litigation, while the delayed E15 vote keeps the biofuel issue alive for farm‑state advocates. Observers say the outcome will hinge on whether Senate Republicans can unite with Democrats on the broader package.

Major farm organizations such as the American Farm Bureau Federation praised the bill’s focus on risk management and crop insurance, while environmental groups warned that stripping pesticide protections could undermine efforts to reduce chemical runoff. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition said the legislation still falls short on aid for beginning and organic farmers.

Watch for the Senate’s markup of the farm bill and the May 13 House vote on year‑round E15 sales.